XTRAC® Laser Treatment for Psoriasis and Vitiligo

XTRAC® Laser Treatment is an FDA-approved excimer laser procedure used to treat active skin lesions associated with psoriasis and vitiligo. Developed by PhotoMedex, the XTRAC laser is designed to effectively reduce the appearance of psoriasis and vitiligo in ten treatments or less, with results typically lasting several months before any symptoms present themselves again.

Thousands of patients across the world have experienced the effective results of this procedure, which uses a wavelength of 308nm to gently clear skin. XTRAC laser treatment is a safe and quick procedure that effectively clears the skin of active lesions while leaving healthy skin intact.

Conditions Treated

Psoriasis is a common, chronic condition that causes patches of itchy, scaly and inflamed skin, known as plaques, to appear on the body. This condition most commonly appears on the knees, elbows, hands, feet and scalp, and affects over seven million people in the US each year (1-2% of the population). Although psoriasis is not typically a medical concern, many patients are bothered by the sometimes severe itching and the unsightly appearance associated with the condition.

Vitiligo is less common, and causes white spots to develop on the skin in varying sizes and locations. These spots develop when pigment cells are destroyed and melanin, the pigment that colors the skin, can no longer be produced. Vitiligo is most commonly found in exposed areas such as the hands and face, or around body openings or folds, such as the eyes, nostrils, mouth, arm pits and genitalia. Nearly half of all vitiligo cases present themselves in patients under the age of 20 and tends to run in families.

Benefits

Patients with psoriasis or vitiligo have likely tried countless other treatment options for their condition, such as topical cream, systemic medications and UVB therapy. While these treatments can offer some relief from symptoms, they often take much longer to perform and may expose the entire body to medication. The XTRAC laser offers several benefits over other treatments. Some of these benefits include:

Shorter treatment time

No UV exposure to healthy skin

No hassle of daily creams

No risk of skin thinning or stretch marks

No risk of liver damage or birth defects

Can be used on hard to treat areas

Patients may see even faster results if they combine the XTRAC laser treatment with their current treatment, and can often enjoy remission times of three to six months.

Candidates

The XTRAC laser is best designed for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis or vitiligo, and is often used by those who have had unsuccessful results from topical or systemic medication. Many major insurance companies cover the XTRAC laser procedure for treatment of these skin conditions. Your doctor will help you decide if this procedure is right for you, along with answering any questions you may have.

Procedure

During the XTRAC procedure, concentrated beams of laser light are delivered directly to the targeted areas from a fiber-optic system that is placed directly on the skin and moved across the area. The high-exposure laser energy effectively treats active lesions while leaving healthy skin intact. Treatment sessions last from 5-30 minutes depending on amount of skin involved.

You may experience feelings of warmth, but most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during the XTRAC laser procedure. Afterwards, your skin may feel like it has a mild sunburn and may be itching or red, but these side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. You may start to notice early results appearing after just one or two treatment sessions, with full results usually visible after then.

If you are interested in learning more about the XTRAC Laser Treatment, please call us today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced providers.

Call (281) 558 – 3376

About Dr. Mahoney

Dr. Stephen Mahoney is a long-time Houstonian graduating from Memorial High School. He then attended and graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame. He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas.[Read More …]